Over 30 civilians killed by strikes along Irrawaddy River in Kachin State

More than 30 civilians were killed and five boats were destroyed in Hsinhskan village tract of Bhamo Township, Kachin State, during aerial attacks carried out by the Myanmar Air Force along the Irrawaddy River on Tuesday.

“Fighter jets opened fire on the boats and along the shore. People were running toward the shore. It was total chaos,” a Bhamo resident told DVB on the condition of anonymity.

“The attacks caused five boats and fuel tanks stored on those boats to catch fire. Many of the residents around the area fled as they were afraid of more airstrikes,” another resident told DVB.

Bhamo, located 118 miles (189 km) south of the Kachin State capital Myitkyina and 119 miles (191 km) southwest of the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) headquarters in Laiza.

Residents told DVB that search and rescue efforts are still ongoing and that the number of casualties may rise. KIA-led resistance forces seized control of Bhamo’s Hsinhskan village tract in May 2024.

Pro-military social media reported that over 100 members from the KIA and its allied People’s Defense Force (PDF) were killed during the airstrikes on Hsinhskan, where they claimed that gold mining operations were being carried out by resistance forces.

The battle over control of Bhamo between KIA and regime forces began on Dec. 4, 2024. Fighting continues in Waingmaw and Hpakant, which are located 30-94 miles (48-151 km) east and west of Myitkyina and 63-158 miles (101-254 km) north and northwest of Laiza.

Over 4,650 civilians, including 489 children under the age of 18, have been killed in 451 mass killing incidents in Myanmar since the military coup on Feb. 1, 2021, according to DVB data.